SAPS given a pat on the back

Police officers who provided safety and security during the Presidential Inauguration ceremony received a special thank you from out-going Police Minister Bheki Cele. 

The monumental event took place at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, for the first time.

Scores of South Africans made their presence felt when President Cyril Ramaphosa was being inaugurated on Saturday. 

Minister Cele thanked the officers who were tasked with keeping peace and order at the event whilst also ensuring that all those in attendance were safe. 

At the event police officers were deployed in several roles such as crowd control, protection of special dignitaries and the President. 

Over 2 000 police officers were deployed in and around the stadium vicinity. 

Speaking after the address Cele said the police had done sterling work in ensuring that everything went smoothly.

“Up to this point I have not heard any complaints coming here. We will be pulling our reports together but up to this point we have not heard any complaints.” 

Minister Cele called on the law enforcement officers to use the same tactics they had used at the inauguration to make South Africa a safer place. 

“It is our call that the spirit that you have created, the standards that you have created please keep it up and make sure South Africans are safe.” 

New cabinet announcement

Meanwhile The Presidency has released a statement announcing that the new cabinet will be announced later this week.

“The Presidency wishes to advise that the announcement will be made later in the week. The Constitution of the Republic stipulates that the President must assume office within five days of being elected by the National Assembly – and thereafter appoint a Cabinet and assign its powers and functions,” said President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko. 

She added that the President would appoint a cabinet of competent personnel.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa is emphatic that the new executive must possess requisite skills, experience, representivity and a commitment to the public services that will take the work of the sixth administration forward.”